Greens deputy leader
Adam Bandt
has hit back at Australian Industry Group (AIG) chief
Innes Willox
over claims that a bill introduced to tackle job insecurity is a trojan horse to pursue further workplace restrictions on businesses.

Writing in Tuesday’s Financial Review, Mr Willox said the campaign on insecure work led by the Greens and unions is based on misinformation that 40 per cent of the workforce is in “insecure work" and was built on a union anti-business agenda.

“There is no ‘insecure work’ problem in Australia. The problem is the campaign by unions to convince the public that there is a problem, so that they can impose a raft of new restrictions on employers," Mr Willox wrote.

“Could the fact that very few casuals and contractors are union members be a key motivator for the campaign?"

Mr Bandt introduced the Tackling Job Insecurity Bill into parliament in late November and there will be a parliamentary inquiry into the subject next year. The bill would put pressure on businesses to move casual workers to a part-time or full-time role.

“Mr Willox is living in another world if he thinks the millions of people in insecure work are all there by choice," Mr Bandt said.

“The AIG can try and peddle a big business fantasy of workers all being happy without sick leave, paid leave or job security, but the reality is very different.

“Flexibility needs to work both ways, for employees as well as employers. If workers are contractors or on insecure arrangements by genuine choice, then that should continue, but if workers are seeking more security they should be entitled to that too."